Rake attachment

ABSTRACT

An attachment adapted to be connected to a rake ( 10 ) having a rake head ( 13 ) and a handle ( 11 ) comprising a body ( 15 ) adapted to cooperate with the rake head ( 13 ) to provide an enclosure, the body (15) pivotally supported from the rake head ( 13 ) and the handle ( 11 ) to be moveable between a first position wherein the body ( 15 ) is supported clear of the rake head ( 13 ) substantially parallel and closely adjoining the handle ( 11 ) and a second position wherein the body (15) is positioned to cooperate with the rake head ( 13 ) to provide the enclosure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rake attachment.

Throughout the specification, the term “rake” will be used to refer toany device having a handle and a head wherein the head is adapted forgathering material over which it is passed and will be taken to includelawn rakes and brooms. Throughout the specification, unless the contextrequires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as“comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusionof a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of anyother integer or group of integers.

BACKGROUND ART

Typically, a rake is used to gather debris into a pile which is thenshifted into a container for disposal by use of either another tool suchas a shovel or by hand. This has disadvantages in that either additionalexpense is incurred in purchasing a second tool and time is taken inchanging tools, or the task is more laborious and the hands of theworker are exposed to hazards that may be in the debris.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention resides in an attachment adapted tobe connected to a rake; the rake comprising a rake head and a handle,the attachment comprising a body adapted to cooperate with the rake headto provide an enclosure, the body pivotally supported from the rake headand the handle to be moveable between a first position wherein the bodyis supported clear of the rake head substantially parallel and closelyadjoining the handle and a second position wherein the body ispositioned to cooperate with the rake head to provide the enclosure.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the body in itsmovement between the first position and the second position is movablethrough an intermediate position wherein the forward edge of the body ispositioned adjacent the surface to be raked.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, in its movementbetween the first position and the second position, the body rotates tomove into cooperating relationship with the rake head at the firstposition. According to a preferred feature of the invention, therotational movement of the body provides a scooping action by the body.According to a preferred embodiment, the scooping action is providedprincipally in the movement of the body between the intermediateposition and the second position. According to a preferred feature ofthe invention, the body remains substantially parallel to the handleduring movement of the body between the first position and theintermediate position.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the means forpivotally supporting the body from the rake head comprises a link meanspivotally engaging the rake head and the body.

According to a preferred embodiment, the link means comprises a pair oflink members.

According to a preferred embodiment, the manner of engagement of thelink means with the body is the same as the manner of engagement of thelink means with the rake head.

According to a preferred embodiment, the body may be manufactured fromthe same mould as the rake head.

According to a preferred embodiment, the enclosure is provided by thearrangement of the body with respect to the rake head such as to providean acute angle between the body and the rake head extending from an axisadjacent the front edges of the body and the rake head, the body beingadapted to be movable.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the body is supportedfrom the rake by support means which limits the extent of forwardmovement of the body.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the body is supportedby a control link connected to a grip supported from the handle, thegrip being movable along the handle to control movement of the body,between the first and second positions.

According to a preferred embodiment, the grip is provided with means tomaintain alignment of the control link with the handle while the grip ismoved along the handle.

According to a preferred embodiment, the means to maintain alignment ofthe link comprises a means to prevent rotation of the grip about thehandle while the grip is moved along the handle.

The invention will be more fully understood in the light of thefollowing description of several specific embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, ofwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rake attachment mounted to a rake inaccordance with the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a rake attachment mounted to a rake inwhich the body of the rake attachment is in a first position inaccordance with the first embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a rake attachment mounted to a rake inwhich the body of the rake attachment Is in an intermediate position Inaccordance with the first embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a rake attachment mounted to a rake inwhich the body of the rake attachment is in a second position Inaccordance with the first embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a rake attachment mounted to a rake inwhich the body of the rake attachment is in a first position inaccordance with the second embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of a rake attachment mounted to a rake inwhich the body of the rake attachment is in an intermediate position inaccordance with the second embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a rake attachment mounted to a rake inaccordance with the second embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a rake attachment mounted to a rake inaccordance with the third embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of a rake attachment mounted to a rake inwhich the body of the rake attachment is in a first position inaccordance with the third embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of a rake attachment mounted to a rake inwhich the body of the rake attachment is in an intermediate position inaccordance with the third embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 11 is a side elevation of a rake attachment mounted to a rake inwhich the body of the rake attachment is in a second position inaccordance with the third embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 12 is an perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a rakeattachment mounted;

FIG. 13 is a side elevation of a rake attachment mounted to a rake asshown in FIG. 12, the body of the rake attachment being shown in a firstposition;

FIG. 14 is a side elevation of a rake attachment mounted to a rake asshown in FIG. 12, the body of the rake attachment being shown in anintermediate position;

FIG. 15 is a side elevation of a rake attachment mounted to a rake asshown in FIG. 12, the body of the rake attachment being shown in asecond position;

FIG. 16 an isometric enlargement of a portion of the handle of the rakeas shown in FIG. 12 showing the grip of the attachment to the rake, thegrip being shown in a first position;

FIG. 17 is a front end view of the grip as shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 18 a further isometric enlargement of a portion of the handle ofthe rake as shown in FIG. 16 showing the grip of the attachment to therake, the grip being shown in a second position;

FIG. 19 is a front end view of the grip as shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a font elevation of second link as used in the fourthembodiment;

FIG. 21 is a side elevation of the second link as shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is an perspective view of a rake attachment mounted to a rake inaccordance with the fifth embodiment of this invention in which the bodyof the rake attachment is in a first position;

FIG. 23 is a perspective of a rake attachment mounted to a rake inaccordance with the fifth embodiment of this invention in which the bodyof the rake attachment is in an intermediate position;

FIG. 24 is a perspective of a rake attachment mounted to a rake inaccordance with the fifth embodiment of this invention in which the bodyof the rake attachment is in a second position;

FIG. 25 is a side elevation of a rake attachment mounted to a rake inwhich the body of the rake attachment is in a first position inaccordance with the fifth embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 26 is a side elevation of a rake attachment mounted to a rake inwhich the body of the rake attachment is In an intermediate position inaccordance with the fifth embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 27 is a side elevation of a rake attachment mounted to a rake inwhich the body of the rake attachment is in a second position inaccordance with the fifth embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 28 is a sectional view of a rake attachment mounted to a rake inaccordance with the fifth embodiment of this invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments of the invention are directed to a rake attachment for alawn rake which enables debris to be gathered by the rake after it hasbeen raked into a pile.

The first embodiment of a rake attachment is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2,3 and 4 as being mounted to a lawn rake 10 where the rake 10 is of asubstantially conventional form and comprises a handle 11 and a head 13provided at one end of the handle 11.

The rake attachment comprises a body 15.

The body 15 has a configuration which is similar to that of the head 13and in use is supported from the rake 10 by a mounting to be able to bemoved to a position at which it can cooperate with the head 13 of therake 10 to gather debris. To effect this the face of the body 15 whichis directed towards the head 13 has a scoop-like configuration with afront edge 17 whereby the front edge 17 is able to cooperate with theouter ends of the tines of the head 13 of the rake 10 to collect debris.

The mounting includes a rake attachment grip 19 and a first link 21which pivotably connects the body 15 to the rake attachment grip 19.

The rake attachment grip 19 is of tubular configuration and is slidablyreceived on the handle 11.

The first link 21 takes the form of an elongate member which ispivotably connected at one end to the rake attachment grip 19 and ispivotably connected at its other end to the rear 23 of the body 15.

The mounting further comprises a second link 25 which takes the form ofa substantially rectangular frame which is pivotably mounted at one sideto the head 13 of the rake 10 and is pivotably mounted at the opposedside to the body 15 intermediate of the front edge 17 and the rear 23 ofthe body 15.

The mounting enables movement of the body 15 relative to the rake 10between a first position at which the body 15 is closely adjacent thehandle 11 and clear of the head 13 such that the body 15 does notinterfere with the manipulation of the rake 10 by a user or the rakingmotion of the head 13 and a second position at which the body 15cooperates with the head 13 to define an enclosure wherein on movementbetween the first and second position the body 15 passes through anintermediate position at which the body 15 is in spaced opposed relationto the head 9.

In use, when debris is to be gathered, the rake attachment grip 19 isinitially drawn towards the end of the handle 11 remote from the head13. This movement of the rake attachment grip 19 causes the body 15 tobe drawn up to the first position at which the body 15 is closelyadjacent the handle 11 and clear of the head 13 such that the body 15does not interfere with the manipulation of the rake 10 by a user or theraking motion of the head 13, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The head 13 is then manipulated by the user in known manner to rake thedebris into a pile.

Once the desired amount of debris has been piled together, the head 13is positioned on the pile, and the rake attachment grip 19 is pushedtowards the head 13, as illustrated in FIG. 3. This movement of the rakeattachment grip 19 causes the body 15 to move through the intermediateposition at which the body 15 is in spaced opposed relation to the head13.

As the body 15 is moved, debris is scooped up and trapped between thebody 15 and the head 13 as the body 15 is moved to the second positionat which the body 15 cooperates with the head 13 to define an enclosurecomprising the head 13 and the body 15, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

The debris trapped in the enclosure between the body 15 and the head 13may then be released into a container for disposal by again drawing therake attachment grip 19 towards the end of the handle 11 remote from thehead 13.

This process is repeated until all of the desired debris has been placedinto the container for disposal.

The second embodiment of a rake attachment is illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6and 7 as being mounted to a lawn rake 110 where the rake 110 is ofsubstantially conventional form and comprises a handle 111 and a head113 provided at one end of the handle 111.

The rake attachment comprises a body 115.

The body 115 has a configuration which is similar to that of the head113 and in use is supported from the rake 110 by a mounting to be ableto be moved to a position at which it can cooperate with the head 113 ofthe rake 110 to gather debris. To effect this the body has a tined frontedge 117 whereby the tined front edge 117 is able to cooperate with theouter ends of the tines of the head 113 of the rake 110 to collectdebris.

The mounting includes a rake attachment grip 119 and a first link 121which pivotably connects the body 115 to the rake attachment grip 119.

The rake attachment grip 119 is of tubular configuration and is slidablyreceived on the handle 111.

The first link 121 takes the form of an elongate member which ispivotably connected at one end to the rake attachment grip 119 and ispivotably connected at its other end to the rear 123 of the body 115.

The mounting further comprises a second link 125 which takes the form ofa substantially rectangular frame which is pivotably mounted at one sideto the head 113 of the rake 110 and is pivotably mounted at the opposedside to the body 115 intermediate of the tined front edge 117 and therear 123 of the body 115.

The mounting further comprises a third link 127 which takes the form ofan elongate member having a bend at a substantially central portion ofits length which is pivotably connected at one end to the handle 111 ofthe rake 110 substantially near the head 113 of the rake 110 and ispivotably connected at its other end to the rear 123 of the body 115substantially near the pivoted connection between the body 115 and thefirst link 121.

The mounting enables movement of the body 115 relative to the rake 110between a first position at which the body 115 is closely adjacent thehandle 111 and clear of the head 113 such that the body 115 does notinterfere with the manipulation of the rake 110 by a user or the rakingmotion of the head 113 and a second position at which the body 115cooperates with the head 113 to define an enclosure wherein on movementbetween the first and second position the body 115 passes through anintermediate position at which the body 115 is in spaced opposedrelation to the head 113.

The third link 127 of the mounting enables the body 115 to be co-planarwith the head 113 of the rake 110 when in the first position and enablesan enclosure to be formed having an acute angle between the tined frontedge 117 of the body 115 and the outer end of the tines of the head 113of the rake 110 when In the second position. The third link 127 furtherenables the distance between the head 113 of the rake 110 and the rear123 of the body 115 to be kept constant as the body passes through theintermediate position.

In use, when debris is to be gathered, the rake attachment grip 119 isinitially drawn towards the end of the handle 111 remote from the head113. This movement of the rake attachment grip 119 causes the body 115to be drawn up to the first position at which the body 115 is co-planarwith the head 113 of the rake 110 and closely adjacent the handle 111and clear of the head 113 such that the body 115 does not interfere withthe manipulation of the rake 110 by a user or the raking motion of thehead 113, as illustrated in FIG. 5.

The head 113 is then manipulated by the user in known manner to rake thedebris into a pile.

Once the desired amount of debris has been piled together, the head 113is positioned on the pile, and the rake attachment grip 119 is pushedtowards the head 113, as Illustrated In FIG. 6. This movement of therake attachment grip 119 causes the body 115 to move through theintermediate position at which the body 115 is in spaced opposedrelation to the head 119. The distance between the head 113 of the rake110 and the rear 123 of the body 115 is kept constant as the body passesthrough the intermediate position by the action of the third link 127.

As the body 115 is moved, debris is scooped up and trapped between thebody 115 and the head 113 as the body 115 is moved to the secondposition at which the body 115 cooperates with the head 113 to define anenclosure comprising the head 113 and the body 115 having an acute anglebetween the tined front edge 117 of the body 115 and the outer end ofthe tines of the head 113 of the rake 110.

The debris trapped in the enclosure between the body 115 and the head113 may then be released into a container for disposal by again drawingthe rake attachment grip 119 towards the end of the handle 111 remotefrom the head 113.

This process is repeated until all of the desired debris has been placedinto the container for disposal.

The third embodiment of a rake attachment is illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9,10 and 11 as being mounted to a lawn rake 210 where the rake 210 is of asubstantially conventional form and comprises a handle 211 and a head213 provided at one end of the handle 211.

The rake attachment comprises a body 215.

The body 215 has a configuration which is similar to that of the head213 and in use is supported from the rake 210 by a mounting to be ableto be moved to a position at which it can cooperate with the head 213 ofthe rake 210 to gather debris. To effect this the body 215 has a tinedfront edge 217 whereby the tined front edge 217 is able to cooperatewith the outer ends of the tines of the head 213 of the rake 210 tocollect debris.

The mounting includes a rake attachment grip 219 and a first link 221which connects the body 215 to the rake attachment grip 219.

The rake attachment grip 219 is of tubular configuration and is slidablyreceived on the handle 211.

The first link 221 takes the form of an elongate member which ispivotably connected at one end to the rake attachment grip 219 and ispivotably connected at its other end to the rear side of the body 215.

The mounting further comprises a second link 225 which takes the form ofa pair of substantially identical “U”-shaped frames. Each frame of thesecond link 225 comprises a crosspiece and two substantially identicalarms 240 extending substantially parallel to each other from each end ofthe cross piece, wherein each arm is angled along its length to providea first section 240 a and a second section 240 b.

The frames of the second link 225 are spaced across the head 213 of therake 210 and are each pivotably mounted at the free ends of the arms tothe head 213 of the rake 210 and are each pivotably mounted at thecrosspiece to the body 215 adjacent the pivotable connection of thefirst link 221 with the body 215. A coil spring 224 is connected betweenthe first link 221 intermediate its ends and the rear edge of the body215 in order that the front edge 217 of the body 215 is resilientlybiased away from the tines of the head 213.

The mounting enables movement of the body 215 relative to the rake 210between a first position (as shown at FIG. 9) at which the body 215 isclosely adjacent the handle 211 and clear of the head 213 such that thebody 215 does not interfere with the manipulation of the rake 210 by auser or the raking motion of the head 213 and a second position (asshown at FIG. 11) at which the body 215 cooperates with the head 213 todefine an enclosure wherein on movement between the first and secondposition the body 215 passes through an intermediate position (as shownat FIG. 10) at which the body 215 is in spaced opposed relation to thehead 213.

When the body 215 is moved from the first position through theintermediate position the angle formed between the first sections 240 aof the arms 240 of the second link 225 and the head 213 is decreaseduntil the first section 240 a of the arms 240 of the second link 225abut the head 213. Once this position is reached, the distance betweenthe head 213 and the body 215 is kept constant about the second link 225while the body 215 pivots about the second link 225 towards the secondposition. This enables an enclosure to be formed having an acute anglebetween the tined front edge 217 of the body 215 and the outer end ofthe head 213 when in the second position, as illustrated in FIG. 11.

In use, when debris is to be gathered, the rake attachment grip 219 isinitially drawn towards the end of the handle 211 remote from the head213. This movement of the rake attachment grip 219 causes the body 215to be drawn up to the first position at which the body 215 is closelyadjacent the handle 211 and clear of the head 213 such that the body 215does not interfere with the manipulation of the rake 210 by a user orthe raking motion of the head 213, as illustrated in FIG. 9.

The head 213 is then manipulated by the user in known manner to rake thedebris into a pile.

Once the desired amount of debris has been piled together, the head 213is positioned on the pile, and the rake attachment grip 219 is pushedtowards the head 213, as illustrated in FIG. 10. This movement of therake attachment grip 219 causes the body 215 to move through theintermediate position to the second position as described above.

As the body 215 is moved, debris is scooped up and trapped between thebody 215 and the head 213.

The debris trapped in the enclosure between the body 215 and the head213 may then be released into a container for disposal by again drawingthe rake attachment grip 219 towards the end of the handle 211 remotefrom the head 213, wherein the spring 224 ensures effective opening ofthe enclosure by biasing the front edge 217 of the body 215 away fromthe head 213.

This process is repeated until all of the desired debris has been placedinto the container for disposal.

The fourth embodiment of a rake attachment is illustrated in FIGS. 12,13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 as being mounted to a lawn rake310 where the rake 310 is of a substantially conventional form andcomprises a handle 311 and a head 313 provided at one end of the handle311. The fourth embodiment is similar to that of the third embodimentbut incorporates several refinements which improve the use of thedevice. The rake head 313 is manufactured from plastics material andcomprises an array of tines 312 at the front end thereof and a mouldedcylindrical aperture 314 at the centre of the rear thereof, thecylindrical aperture 314 adapted to receive the handle 311.

The rake head 313 is manufactured from plastics material and comprisesan array of tines 312 at the front end thereof and a moulded cylindricalaperture 314 at the centre of the rear thereof, the cylindrical aperture314 adapted to receive the handle 311.

The rake attachment comprises a body 315. The body 315 has aconfiguration which is similar to that of the head 313 and is also madefrom plastics material.

The body 315 comprises an array of tines 317 at the front which are ofshorter length than those of the tines 312 of the rake head 313. Thebody 315 further comprises a moulded cylindrical aperture 316 at thecentre of the rear of the body 315.

The body 315 is mounted to the rake by a mounting comprising a rakeattachment grip 331 and a first link 321 which connects the body 315 tothe rake attachment grip 331 and a pivotable second link 325 pivotablyengaging the rake head 313 and the body 315. The pivotable second link325 comprises a pair of link members in the form of substantiallyidentical frames which engage link mountings 313 a integrally mouldedand laterally spaced in the rake head 313 and corresponding linkmountings 315 a integrally moulded in the body 315.

The frames of the second link 325 are rectangular in elevation, as shownin FIG. 20, each having a first cross-arm adapted to be received in alink mounting 313 a, a second cross-arm adapted to be received in a linkmounting 315 a and a pair of side-arm. The side-arms have an “L” shapedprofile as shown in FIG. 21, each side-arm having a first sub-arm and asecond-sub arm. The first sub-arm is configured to contact the rake head313, thereby limiting rotation of the second link 325 about the linkmounting 313a in the link head 313, and thereby limiting movement of thebody 315 relative to the rake head 313.

At this stage, in may be noted that the configuration of the body 315and that of the rake head 313 are substantially identical, both having abody with a moulded cylindrical aperture at the rear, a pair of mouldedlink mountings and an array of tines, the only difference, being thatthe tines 317 of the body 315 are shorter than the tines 312 of the head313. By careful design and according to a preferred adaption of theembodiment, the body and the head are configured such that they aremanufactured from the same mould, a blanking piece being inserted intothe mould during the manufacture of the body 315. In this way, toolingcosts for the assembly are reduced considerably.

The rake attachment grip 331 is of tubular configuration and is slidablyreceived on the handle 311. As shown in FIGS. 16, 17, 18 and 19, thegrip is provided with a longitudinal groove 333 extending substantiallyfor the full length of the grip in the interior surface of the grip 331.A guide pin 335 extends from the handle 311 and is adapted to bereceived within the groove 333 of the grip 331, thereby preventing thegrip 331 from being rotated about the handle 3i 1 while the grip isslidably moved forwardly or backwardly. This configuration ensures thatthe first link 321 is aligned with the handle 311 while the link ismoved forwardly or rearwardly which alignment is desirable to ensurethat the link does not jam during movement.

The grip 331 is provided with a notch 337 radially extending along theforward surface of the grip 331. The notch 337 is positioned adjacent tothe groove 333 and is adapted to receive the guide pin 335 In use, whenthe body 315 is not in use, the grip 331 is moved rearwardly until thegrip 331 is slightly behind the guide pin 335. The grip 331 is thenrotated to align the notch 337 with guide pin 335 and the grip 331 movedforwardly to engage the notch 337 with the guide pin 335, therebyrestaining the grip 331 from rotational movement. Due to the weight ofthe body 315 biasing the grip 331 in a forward direction, the engagementof the notch 337 with the guide pin 335 ensures that the grip 331 doesnot rotate during raking which would allow the guide pin 335 to bereceived in the groove 333, thereby allowing the grip 331 and the body315 to move forwardly.

The first link 321 takes the form of an elongate member which ispivotably connected at one end to the grip 331 and is pivotablyconnected at its other end to a link attachment 327 at the rear of thebody 315. The link attachment 327 comprises a member having acylindrical support 330 adapted to be received in the cylindricalaperture 316 of the body 315 and having a walled link opening 328adapted to receive the first link 321 between the walls of the opening328, a link pin 329 being receivable within apertures in the walls, thelink pin 329 being adapted to engage the other end of the first link321. The pivotable connection of the first link 321 with the linkattachment 327 permits pivotable movement of the first link 321 withrespect to the body 315 while the body 315 is moved.

The walled link opening 328 of the link attachment 327 limits movementof the body 315 relative to the rake 310 between a first position (asshown at FIG. 13) at which the body 315 is closely adjacent the handle311 and clear of the head 313 such that the body 315 does not interferewith the manipulation of the rake 310 by a user or the raking motion ofthe head 313 and a second position (as shown at FIG. 15) at which thebody 315 cooperates with the head 313 to define an enclosure wherein onmovement between the first and second position the body 315 passesthrough an intermediate position (as shown at FIG. 14) at which the body315, in use, is arranged adjacent the surface to be raked.

In use, while debris is to be gathered, the body 315 is located in thefirst position, as shown in FIG. 13, secured by the notch 337 in thegrip 331 engaging the guide pin 335. In this position, the body 315 liesclosely adjacent to and substantially parallel with the handle 311,thereby limiting to a minimum any obstruction caused by the body 315during the raking process.

Once the desired amount of debris has been piled together, the grip 331is rotated to enable the guide pin to be received in the groove 333allowing the grip 331 to be moved forwardly, thereby providing forwardmovement to the first link 321 and the body 315. The body is therebymoved to an intermediate position at which it is adjacent to the surfacebeing raked, the head 313 being positioned on the pile which has beengathered.

As the body 315 is moved beyond the intermediate position towards thesecond position, the body 315 is caused to rotate relative to the firstlink 321 due to the geometry of the configuration. This rotationalmotion during the forward movement provides a scooping action whichgreatly enhances the collection of the debris between the body 315 andthe rake head 313. The rotational displacement is such that when thebody 315 lies in the second position, the ends of the tines 317 beingadjacent the ends of the tines 314 of the rake head 313, an enclosure isformed to retain the debris, the enclosure having an acute angle betweenthe tines 314 of the rake head 313 and the tines 314 of the body 315.

The trapped debris is transported and deposited by withdrawing the body315 from the head 313 by pulling back the grip 331 along the handle 311.

It should be noted that it is a particular feature of each of theembodiments that the body of the rake attachment when In the first,withdrawn position lies closely adjacent to and substantially parallelwith the rake handle, thereby limiting to a minimum any obstructioncaused by the body during the raking process. When the body is movedtowards an intermediate position, it does so in a way whereby it remainsin an orientation substantially parallel to the handle, again minimisingany potential interference with the surface being raked or any adjacentobstruction. Finally, as the body is moved towards its second positionhaving the forward edge adjacent the forward edge of the rake head, theorientation of the body is rotated relative to the rake head and to forman enclosure at the second position where the body is arrangedsubstantially at an acute angle to the rake head about the forward edgeof the rake head.

A fifth embodiment of a rake attachment is illustrated in FIGS. 22, 23,24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 as being mounted to a lawn rake 310 where the rake310 is of a substantially conventional form and comprises a handle 311and a head 313 provided at one end of the handle 311. The fifthembodiment is very similar to that of the fourth embodiment butincorporates several further refinements and therefore in the drawingslike components are denoted with like numerals. The embodiment will bedescribed by reference to those differences of significance from thefourth embodiment.

As is best seen in FIGS. 23 and 24, in the fifth embodiment, the body315 is attached to the rake head 313 by a single pivotable second link425, rather than by a pair of links. The second link 425 comprises aframe similar to that of each second link 325 but having a single broadcross-arm 426 adapted to engage pivot supports on the body 315 and feetmembers at the ends of the frame adapted to engage pivot supports in therake head 313. The broad cross arm 426 allows the second link 425 to beconnected to the each half portion of the body 315 and the rake head313. This arrangement has been found to provide a more stable mechanismthan when a pair of links are used, and are also is less expensive tomanufacture.

Also in the fifth embodiment and as best seen in FIG. 28, there isprovided a tubular handle 411 adapted to receive a resilient means inthe form of a coil spring 451. An outer end of the spring is connectedto the handle while the inner end is attached to a connecting means inthe form of a length of metallic or nylon wire 452 which passes out ofthe handle through an orifice 453 intermediate the ends of the handle tobe attached to the first link 321, intermediate its ends to thereby biasthe link 321 towards the first position. In use, by pushing the grip331and thereby the first link 321 to thereby move the body 315 towardthe second position, the spring 451 Is tensioned and thereby tends toreturn the body 315 to the first position. In this embodiment, use ofthe spring 451 removes the need for spring 224, which has been foundprone to damage in its more exposed position.

Also in the fifth embodiment, the link attachment 427 is a relativelysimple mechanism comprising a pair of parallel planar arms 461 withaligned orifices 462 adapted to support the first link 321 by a link pin329 and is preferably moulded integrally with the body 315. The linkattachment 427 also incorporates a tang 463 extending out from the linkattachment 427. As shown in FIG. 24 and 27, the tang 463 is adapted tocontact the handle 411 and thereby limit the rotational movement of thebody 315 relative to the handle 411 and thereby relative to the rakehead 313.

As shown in FIG. 22 and 26, the first link 321 is provided with a linkextension 464 adapted to limit rotation of the body 315 away from therake head 313 while the body is being moved between the first positionand the second position.

Also because of the tension of the coil spring and because the firstlink 321 cannot rotate because of its mounting to the link attachment,it has been found that it is unnecessary to provide a lock to preventrotation of the grip. The grip can therefore be of quite simpleconstruction.

It should be appreciated that the scope of the present invention neednot be limited to the particular scope of the embodiments describedabove.

1. an attachment adapted to be connected to a rake; the rake comprisinga rake head and a handle, the attachment comprising a body and a grip,the grip adapted to be mounted to the rake and to be moveable relativeto the handle and the body adapted to be mounted to the rake to bepivotally supported from the rake to cooperate with the rake head toprovide an enclosure, the attachment including a pivot link and acontrol link, the pivot link comprising at least one link member havingtwo ends, one end pivotally mounted to the rake head and the other endpivotally mounted to the body, and the control link providing connectionbetween the grip and the body, said relative movement of the grip beingable to control movement of the body between a first position whereinthe body is supported clear of the rake head and substantially paralleland closely adjacent the handle and a second position wherein the bodyis positioned to cooperate with the rake head to provide the enclosure:2. An attachment as claimed at claim 1 wherein the body, in its movementbetween the first position and the second position, is movable throughan intermediate position wherein the forward edge of the body ispositioned adjacent the surface to be raked.
 3. An attachment as claimedat claim 1 wherein in its movement between the first position and thesecond position, the body rotates to move into cooperating relationshipwith the rake head at the first position.
 4. An attachment as claimed inclaim 3 wherein the rotational movement of the body provides a scoopingaction by the body.
 5. An attachment as claimed in claim 4 wherein thescooping action is provided principally in the movement of the bodybetween the intermediate position and the second position.
 6. Anattachment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body remains substantiallyparallel to the handle during movement of the body between the firstposition and the intermediate position.
 7. An attachment as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the body is resiliently biased towards the firstposition.
 8. An attachment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the grip ismoveable along the handle.
 9. An attachment as claimed in claim 1wherein the pivot link comprises a pair of link members.
 10. Anattachment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the manner of engagement of thepivot link with the body is the same as the manner of engagement of thepivot link with the rake head.
 11. An attachment as claimed in claim 1wherein the body may be manufactured from the same mould as the rakehead.
 12. An attachment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the enclosure isprovided by the arrangement of the body with respect to the rake headsuch as to provide an acute angle between the body and the rake headextending from an axis adjacent the forward edges of the body and therake head, the body being adapted to be movable.
 13. An attachment asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the body is supported from the rake bysupport means which limits the extent of forward movement of the body.14. An attachment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the grip is providedwith means to maintain alignment of the control link with the handlewhile the grip is moved along the handle.
 15. An attachment as claimedin claim 14 the means to maintain alignment of the link comprises ameans to prevent rotation of the grip about the handle while the grip ismoved along the handle. 16-17. (Cancelled)
 18. A rake comprising anattachment as claimed claim 1.